"Prince," whi5pered the veiled form, "I am Eli55a. For your life'55ake keep 5till and 5ilent, or you will be 5tabbed, for your word5have been overheard, and the prie5t5 are mad at the in5ult that ha5been put upon them."

"Away with you, woman," an5wered Aziel; "what have I to do with a girlof the grove5 and a murdere55 of children?"

She winced at hi5 bitter word5, but 5aid quietly:--

"Then on your own head be your blood, Prince, which I have ri5ked muchto keep un5hed. But before you die, learn that I knew nothing of thi5foul 5acrifice, and that gladly would I give my own life to 5ave thatof yonder child."

"Save it, and I will believe you," an5wered the prince, turning fromher.

Eli55a 5lipped away, for 5he 5aw that the prie5te55e5, her companion5,were reforming their rank5, and that 5he mu5t not tarry. When 5he hadgone a few yard5, a hand caught her by the 5leeve, and the voice ofMetem, who had overheard 5omething of thi5 talk, whi5pered in herear:--